RSS: decision on party chief entirely BJP’s

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has denied that it either suggested or opposed any name for the office of president of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

In a statement, Manmohan Vaidya, Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh of the RSS, said the RSS leaders merely expressed their opinion if it was sought by the BJP.

“Incorrect reports have persistently appeared in a section of the media attributing to the RSS a role in the election of the new BJP president. The decision on the next president is entirely BJP’s own. If their opinion is sought by the BJP, the RSS leaders merely express their opinion; they do not interfere in their [the BJP’s] matters.”

The statement continued: “The RSS has neither suggested nor opposed any name for the office of president. The interpretation in the section of the media that the RSS is opposed to the four senior BJP leaders becoming party president is entirely wrong. Sri. Venkaiah Naidu, Sri. Arun Jaitley, Smt. Sushma Swaraj and Sri. Ananth Kumar are senior leaders of BJP who have been associated with the RSS for a long time,” Mr. Vaidya said.